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FDSC20100

Academic Year 2024/2025

Agricultural Biochemistry (FDSC20100)

Subject:
Food Science
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Agriculture & Food Science
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Nigel Patrick Brunton
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The main aim of this module is to introduce students to how living cells (animal and plant) can extract energy from highly reduced organic molecules (i.e. carbohydrates, fats, proteins) and convert them to a usuable form of energy suitable to the living cell. Various metabolic pathways will be covered, as will the control mechanisms and interactions of the metabolic pathways operative in the cells.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to: Explain how living cells can extract, transform and utilise energy from their environment. Predict how the mammalian organism reacts to various states of nutrition, which it may be subjected to over a period. Assess the role, mode of action and interaction of various hormones involved in nutrient metabolism.

Indicative Module Content:

Introduction General concepts and key terminology
Enzymes – Nomenclature, action, key factors on enzyme activity, inhibition
Digestion - Ruminant and Monogastric digestion
Metabolism of carbohydrates Glycolysis
Metabolism of carbohydrates – Gluconeogenesis
Glycogen – Formation breakdown and regulation of its metabolism
Regulation of Glucose Metabolism
Structure and function of mitochondria
The citric acid cycle
Oxidative phosphorylation – Electron transport chain
ATP synthesis and energetic considerations
Photosynthesis – Light reactions – Photosystems in plants
Photosynthesis – Calvin cycle
Metabolism of fatty acids – Lipid oxidation
Metabolism of fatty acids – Ketone bodies and their metabolic role
Metabolism of fatty acids – Biosynthesis of a new fatty acid
Lipid transport and role of lipoproteins
Protein degradation and turnover – Amino acids nomencalture and synthesis
Amino acid catabolism
Amino acid biosynthesis
Urea cycle
Role of hormones in regulation of body functions
Metabolic enzymes: Insulin and glucagon
Integration of metabolic pathways – Role of organs –Food intake and starvation

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

70

Lectures

24

Tutorial

2

Computer Aided Lab

8

Total

104


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module content is delivered via a series of lectures at the end of each lecture a series of multiple choice questions are addressed based on the content of the lecture. Two in term MCQ's (not negatively marked) are held which contribute 10% each to the final marks and a tutorial going through questions similar to those on the MCQ is held after each MCQ. Student complete 4 labs with experiments (which may be held online) designed to align with and compliment the lecture material. 1 week after the lab the students hand in a worksheet which is corrected and returned after 2 weeks with a breakdown of where errors have occurred. Each worksheet contributes 5% of the final marks (20% overall). The final exam is worth 60% of the final mark and is a MCQ (not negatively marked). AI may not be used for any assessments in this module.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

CHEM 00020 Introductory chemistry
CHEM 10040 The Molecular World


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Required:
CHEM10010 - Intro to Biomolecules

Incompatibles:
FDSC20020 - Nutritional Energy Metabolism


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): Final end of semester MCQ, 80 questions, not negatively marked End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
60
No
Report(s): Four Worksheets submitted based on data provided by the module co-ordinator Week 4, Week 6, Week 8, Week 10 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
20
No
Exam (Online): MCQ during the semester work 10% of final mark not negatively marked Week 6 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
10
No
Exam (Online): MCQ during the semester work 10% of final mark not negatively marked Week 10 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
10
No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

For the lab components students receive feedback in the form of a breakdown of each question on a worksheet with a commentary on where errors have occurred within 2 weeks after handing in the worksheet. For the in term MCQ's students receive their mark within 7 days and an in-class tutorial is held in which questions on the MCQ are addressed. A series of of online MCQ's quizzes are also available in which the student is told whether or not they have given the correct answer. At the end of each lecture the module co-coordinator goes through a number of MCQ questions based on the lecture topic.

Biochemistry – Berg, Tymoczko, Stryer

Textbook of biochemistry with clinical correlations – Devlin

Biochemistry – Zubay

Biochemistry – A case orientated approach -Montgomery

Fundamentals of Biochemistry: Life at molecular level, 3rd Ed - Voet

Harper's illustrated biochemistry by Murray, Robert K

Name Role
Dr Raquel Cama-Moncunill Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Marcella Chalella Mazzocato Tutor
Matta Asaad Mesak Ebaid Tutor
Ms Laura Gunning Tutor
Sherif Adel Abdelwanis Mohamed Shaheen Tutor
Xiangru Wei Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33 Fri 10:00 - 10:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33 Mon 09:00 - 09:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 09:00 - 09:50
Spring Computer Aided Lab Offering 1 Week(s) - 22, 25, 28, 31 Mon 15:00 - 16:50
Spring Computer Aided Lab Offering 2 Week(s) - 22, 24, 25, 31 Mon 14:00 - 15:50
Spring Computer Aided Lab Offering 3 Week(s) - 23, 26, 29, 32 Mon 15:00 - 16:50
Spring Computer Aided Lab Offering 5 Week(s) - 22, 27, 33 Mon 15:00 - 16:50